Nike introduces Air Works, a program that will bring eight designers from around the world to its Beaverton campus to develop new Air Max concepts. The group includes creatives from Beijing, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo. Each designer will take part in a session that places them inside Nike’s design and research space, working directly with the teams behind Air Max.
SNEAKERS
The first session will take place from May 11 to May 14 at the Philip H. Knight Campus. During that time, each designer will work directly with Nike designers and engineers to shape a new Air Max concept. The process will result in a 3D-printed shoe produced with Zellerfeld, giving each idea a physical outcome tied to the designer’s own perspective and the communities they represent.
Nike sets up Air Works as a way to connect external voices with its internal design process. Andy Caine, VP and Creative Director of Nike Sportswear, describes the program as a chance to study Air Max history while developing new interpretations through direct engagement with Nike’s tools and teams.
Participants will spend time across several Nike facilities as part of the program. They will visit the Air Manufacturing Innovation facility to examine how Air units are developed and produced. The Department of Nike Archives will provide access to past projects, while the Nike Sport Research Lab will introduce performance insights. Sessions at Blue Ribbon Studio and the Bowerman Footwear Lab will expand their understanding of footwear development from concept through production.
Each concept will build on Nike’s 40-year history of Air innovation. Designers will use 3D printing to explore new forms and structures, shaping footwear that reflects both individual direction and shared technical knowledge developed within Nike.
Following the program, each designer will release a limited friends and family version of their Air Max concept within their local community. These releases will take place over the coming year and connect to a broader timeline leading into Air Max Day 2027. Nike will share more information about the participating designers later this season.
Air Works creates a direct link between global designers and Nike’s internal design system. The program connects research, development and production in one place, giving each participant the ability to turn an idea into a finished product within a defined timeframe.
